Duluth steam locomotive makes first revenue runs in two years

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No. 332 passes Palmers, Minn., en route to Two Harbors on July 13.

Jeff Terry

DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway 2-8-0 No. 332 made its first revenue trips in two years over the weekend. Restored to its original Missabe Road number and lettering from Duluth & Northeastern No. 28 this spring, the locomotive made three round trips from Duluth to Two Harbors July 12-14. The engine last operated in 2017; it was sidelined in 2018 due to mechanical issues.

The July 12 trip included an all-heavyweight consist of No. 332, a baggage car and DM&IR coach 33. On July 13 a longer train was operated so a diesel helper, DM&IR SD18 No. 193, was added to the consist. As it turned out, the diesel had trouble loading, and No. 332 ended up pulling the train and the inoperable diesel. No. 332 operated solo on July 14.

No. 332 was constructed by American Locomotive Co.’s Pittsburgh Works in 1906 for the Duluth, Missabe & Northern as No. 332. It was operated by DM&N successor Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range as No. 332 from 1937 until 1955, when it was sold to short line Duluth & Northeastern based in Cloquet, which renumbered it 28. The locomotive remained in service on D&NE until 1964. Ten years later it was donated to the museum. It was restored to operation in spring 2017.

This will be a “steamy” week in Minnesota. Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 will arrive in the state on July 17 from Mason City, Iowa and be displayed at St. Paul Union Depot July 18. The next day the 4-8-8-4 will head to Duluth, where a “meet and greet” with No. 332 is planned. While No. 4014 is on display at the Museum July 20, No. 332 will pull short trips from the Museum to Lakeside in Duluth’s East End. The Big Boy heads back to the Twin Cities July 22, then departs for Wisconsin and Illinois points July 23.